The two men weep together and share a meal. Wedgwood plaque showing Priam begging Achilles (far right) for the return of Hector's body. By taking away the prize of honour that has been allocated to Achilles in recognition of his fighting prowess, Agamemnon dishonours him. Early Greek society was highly competitive and a man's honour was vital to his sense of identity and position. In fact 'anger' is the first word of the whole poem.Īchilles is initially angry because the leader of the Greek forces, King Agamemnon, takes a captive woman named Briseis from him.

The anger or rage of Achilles is a key theme of Homer's Iliad. Things only really get interesting during the 10th year of the war, which is the focus for Homer's Iliad. The image suggests that the Greek heroes spent many long hours whiling away the time during the siege of Troy. In art, a popular scene was that of Achilles playing a board game with the hero Ajax. The epic poem which covered this part of the war (the Cypria) does not survive, so its events are known in much less detail. Troy is a well-defended city and nine long years of siege follow. Storage jar showing Ajax (left) and Achilles (right) playing a game. He is hidden on the island of Skyros, disguised as a girl at the court of King Lycomedes among his numerous daughters. Why did Achilles' parents try to stop him going to Troy?Ī prophecy had foretold that Achilles would die at Troy, so when the Greek leaders gather for their campaign to return the abducted Helen, Achilles' parents attempt to prevent him joining the expedition. There were no words in ancient Greek for 'homosexual' and 'heterosexual' and in classical Athens relationships between older, often married, men and younger men were a normal part of social life.

In ancient Greece it was common for men to have sexual relationships with both men and women.

Photo: Johannes Laurentius.Īlthough Homer doesn't explicitly cast them as lovers, their intimate relationship is crucial to the plot of the Iliad, and in other works of ancient literature the relationship between the two men is more explicitly referenced as a love affair. ©ANTIKENSAMMLUNG, STAATLICHE MUSEEN ZU BERLIN – PREUSSISCHER KULTURBESITZ. Drinking cup showing Achilles bandaging Patroclus' wound.

Medieval helmets sketches